SQL 2008 vs SQL 2005 1

[kjv1611]

Hi, folks, I don't think I've asked a SQL question here in a while.

This question is pretty generic, I suppose.

On Monday, I'm starting in a new position, new department, same company.

With that change, I'll also have access to a test SQL Server, running MS SQL 2008. Currently, everything else I use/have access to is MS SQL 2005.

It will not be a dba-type of access, but moreso just running queries. Not sure whether it'll mainly be read-only, as in SELECT type queries, or whether it will involve runing UPDATE/APPEND, etc queries.

Regardless, I thought I'd ask here of you folks. Who here has used MS SQL 2008, and can speak to any noticeable difference vs SQL Server 2005?

The one thing that I can think of, which will be helpful to me, perhaps, is in the ability to import XLSX files, for instance, instead of converting them to XLS or TXT.

Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions/references. I know I can Google for it, but I'm looking for any experience you folks could point to.

 

[TheBugSlayer]

You will be able to run all the statements that you currently run in SQL Server 2005. That should give you some peace of mind. Personally I have used and love the new MERGE statement, sparse columns, grouping sets and policy based management. I have used the other features only in labs. Here is a list of all of them:

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/whats-new.aspx

Enjoy!

MCP SQL Server 2000, MCTS SQL Server 2005, MCTS SQL Server 2008 (DBD, DBA)

 

[kjv1611]

Thanks for the info and the link, TheBugSlayer. Knowing that current statements will be safe is good, and it certainly sounds like there are some far more important improvements than just being able to import xlsx files.